DETROIT -- Brian Rafalski was an integral part of the Detroit Red Wings’ 2008 Stanley Cup championship team, with his ability to move the puck with fast, accurate passes and his shot from the point.

But injuries have worn him down in recent years.

In a surprising move, the 37-year-old defenseman has decided to retire, a source told Booth Newspapers on Monday.

Rafalski is expected to announce his decision Wednesday during a news conference at Joe Louis Arena. He had one year remaining on his contract at $6 million.

General manager Ken Holland said on Monday that he hasn’t spoken to Rafalski in a week and would not confirm his decision.

"I think (retirement) is an option for him," Holland said. "I met with him a week ago. He wanted to take some time. We planned to talk this week."

Neither Rafalski or his agent, Bill Zito, could be reached for comment.

Rafalski has been hampered by injuries in recent years. He had back surgery last summer. He missed 10 games in October after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and sat out eight games in late February/early March due to back spasms. He also was bothered by a sore knee in the playoffs, which prevented him from skating on most off-days.

”I think Rafi’s health (issues) is more over time," Holland said. "Whatever injuries Rafi had this year were wear and tear from his career."

Rafalski had four goals and 44 assists (third on team) in 63 games this season and added two goals and one assist in 11 playoff games. He was not as strong defensively, however, leading the team’s defensemen in giveaways.

The Red Wings signed the Dearborn native to a five-year, $30 million free-agent contract on July 1, 2007. The right-handed shooting defenseman was an ideal complement to Nicklas Lidstrom. They formed one of the top defense pairings in the league for three seasons before being separated at the start of the 2010-11 season.

Rafalski has 79 goals and 515 points in 833 games over 11 NHL seasons, the last four in Detroit.

He has won three Stanley Cups, including two with the New Jersey Devils (2000 and 2003), who signed the undrafted Rafalski as a free agent in 1999, after he spent three seasons in Finland and one in Sweden.

Rafalski also is a three-time Olympian, winning the silver medal twice with Team USA.

Because Rafalski was not 35 when he signed with Detroit in 2007, the final year of the deal will not count against the salary cap.

The Red Wings also are waiting to hear if Lidstrom will return for his 20th season or retire.

Detroit’s defense might undergo a significant overhaul. Jonathan Ericsson is an unrestricted free agent whom the club would like to re-sign, having offered him a multiyear deal worth $2 million a season. But he might seek a better deal elsewhere.

Veteran Ruslan Salei also might not return.

The Red Wings will have a lot of cap space to explore the free-agent market.

Some of the defensemen who can become unrestricted free agents on July 1 include Kevin Bieksa, Christian Ehrhoff and Sami Salo of Vancouver; James Wisniewski, Roman Hamrlik and Andrei Markov of Montreal; Tomas Kaberle of Boston, Scott Hannan of Washington, Ed Jovanovski of Phoenix and Joni Pitkanen of Carolina.

Shea Weber of Nashville and Drew Doughty of Los Angeles are the premier restricted free-agent defensemen. Weber, however, told The Tennessean that he wants to remain with the Predators and is confident a long-term deal can be worked out.

The Red Wings, under Holland, have never signed a restricted free agent to an offer sheet. The player’s club has the right to match or receive compensatory draft picks.